Parliament Square

Parliament Square lies at the northwest edge of the Palace of Westminster in central London. The 19th-century square has a broad central lawn lined with trees on its western side and is surrounded by major institutions. Twelve statues of statesmen and other notable figures stand around the green, each facing different directions. The square is bordered by the legislature to the east, government offices to the north, the Supreme Court to the west, and Westminster Abbey to the south. Flags from the United Kingdom, its four countries, the Crown Dependencies and the sixteen British Overseas Territories often fly here alongside the fifty-six flags of the Commonwealth of Nations. The square has been a focal point for public demonstrations for over a century. In May 2000 a guerrilla gardening group turned the lawn into a giant allotment for a day. Brian Haw maintained a continuous protest from 2001 until 2013, drawing attention to British and American actions in Iraq. In August 2025 a large Palestine Action rally led to 532 arrests, the Metropolitan Police’s biggest single-day total in a decade. The square’s role in civil liberties debates has twice prompted new laws, first in 2005 and again in 2011. Visitors find a quiet lawn surrounded by the statues of Churchill, Smuts, Gandhi and nine others. Westminster Abbey and St Margaret’s Church overlook the southern edge, while the Middlesex Guildhall houses the Supreme Court on the west side. Broad Sanctuary and Great George Street branch off the square, leading to Victoria Street and Birdcage Walk. The central garden is maintained by the Greater London Authority, which keeps the paving, lighting and planting in order.